September 19, 2011
Here we are at the changing of the seasonals and the emergence of spicy, flavorful pumpkin ales and dark, malty oktoberfests! I take it as a personal challenge to try every brewery’s seasonal offerings…and here are my opinions so far this year.
Top of my list of seasonal yummy-ness is Blue Point Brewery in Long Island, NY. They have a really good feel for seasonal beers and their pumpkin ale and oktoberfest are no exception. The pumpkin ale has a perfect balance of spices, pumpkin flavor and malt. Full-flavored and easy drinking, this is easily my personal favorite….so far. The oktoberfest has a nice rich malt flavor but goes down easy and smooth without a viscous feel and lingering after-taste present in some oktoberfests.
There are plenty of solid offerings out there as well. Post Road Pumpkin by Brooklyn Brewery is always a solid beer though I think their Oktoberfest is a bit sub-par this year. Harpoon’s Pumpkin UFO is a little lighter and sweeter than some but a very delicious unfiltered flavored wheat beer. Magic Hat’s Hex and Leinenkugel’s Oktoberfest are definitely worth trying as well.
Whatever your preference is the important thing is to enjoy both the changing of the seasons and the accompanying beer offerings with good friends and family.